Hoyer Statement on November Jobs Report

WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after the Department of Labor released their jobs report for November:

“Today we learned that America’s economy added 39,000 jobs last month. Just as importantly, our private sector expanded again, adding jobs for the 11th straight month. Nevertheless, with millions still out of work and an unemployment rate still near 10%, these numbers are discouraging and show that we have a long way to go before our economy has returned to health. Congress has much more work to do to foster job growth, a responsibility that is clearly shared by both parties. For Americans in every district we represent, the stakes are too high to fail to cooperate on consensus, job-creating solutions, such as the Make It In America agenda, a plan to rebuild manufacturing jobs.

“Given this disappointing employment picture, it is shocking that Republicans continue to block unemployment insurance for Americans who lost jobs through no fault of their own. Because of Republicans’ ideological opposition to extending unemployment insurance, millions of Americans lost the last lifeline keeping their families afloat at the beginning of this month. I fail to understand how anyone can claim, at a time of 10% unemployment, that we can afford billions of dollars in tax cuts for the wealthiest among us—but we can’t afford to help the jobless get back on their feet.”